by Conn, Claudy
Roman smiles for the audience and spoke through gritted teeth. "What? Why would I want to go on a date with you?”
"Roman, I'm serious!" I elbow him again.
Roman looks over at Noelle, she shrugged her shoulders. "Twenty thousand dollars."
I sighed a breath of relief knowing Roman would surely win the auction so I wouldn't have to go on a date with Adam.
Adam bids again. "Thirty thousand dollars."
Roman look over at me and gave me an annoyed look, but I insist he bid again. "Fifty thousand dollars."
Adam looked directly at me as he bids again. Five hundred thousand dollars."
My jaw drops and the room goes silent. I look over at Roman.
He stepped back away from me. "I'm rich, but I don't need to go out on a date with you that badly. You're on your own sister."
My heart dropped as I look around the room waiting for someone else to bid. But, knowing Adam's reputation as being a ruthless businessman, no one would dare try to bid again.
Noelle closes the bidding. "Sold to Mr. Adam Winters. Eve would you kindly take the floor with Adam and the rest of the couples for your ‘get to know each other’ dance."
I froze where I stood. I can't move one inch.
Noelle walked away from the microphone and nudges me off the stage.
Adam walks over to me. A sly smile splayed across his handsome face. He holds his hand out to me gently taking my hand as he guided me towards the dance floor. "Shall we princess?"
"Yes, but can you please stop calling me that?"
"Whatever you wish sweetness."
From the look on his face I could tell I must have growled out loud. "Never mind."
When we got to the dance floor he pulled me in close to him. Our bodies touching. My heart started to beat faster and faster. Beating so hard it felt as if my chest was being hit with a sledgehammer. I have never felt like this before. I usually have that effect on men. Not the other way around. We glide around the floor for two dances before I felt a warm liquid oozing down my leg and on my foot. I stop to look down. My leg was covered in blood and my shoes were absolutely ruined. “Oh no, my leg. My dress is going to get ruined.” I broke free of Adam's hold and briskly walked towards the ladies room.
Before I entered I turned to see Adam following me. A look of worry on his face. "Eve, what happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I fell earlier today, it looks like the bandage has come off. I'll just be a second."
I approach the door to the restroom when I noticed he was right behind me, ready to come in with me. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm coming in to help you."
"You do realize this is the ladies room?"
"Yes."
"Well, you can't go in there."
"Fine." He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the men's bathroom.
"Mr. Winters, what do you think you're doing? Are you insane? This is the men's room."
"Well, you wouldn't let me go in the ladies room, but you're more than welcome to come into the men's room so I can help you." He gave the door a swift kick, pushing me through the door without waiting for a response to see if anyone was in here.
I stood in the corner of the restroom. I felt really uncomfortable. I watched him as he went from stall to stall looking for some toilet paper. He came out with a roll. "Get up on the counter there so I can clean up some of the blood."
I snatched the tissue from his hand. "I can do it myself, thank you." I unravel a few sheets and pulled up my dress just enough to reveal the gash. I struggled to hold all the fabric of my dress in my hands. I couldn’t wipe my leg and hold my dress at the same time. Adam saw me struggle.
He led me over the counter by the sink. "Let me help for goodness sake." He lifted me up onto the cold marble counter-top with such ease. As if I weigh nothing more than a feather. He bunched up the fabric of my dress. "Here, hold this." He turned on the cold water faucet in the sink holding the tissue underneath the running water.
He wiped up the blood that had ran down my leg having me hold a tissue on my deep wound. "I should take you to the hospital. This needs stitches."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'll be fine."
"Eve, I'm serious. This needs to be looked at."
"I don't need to go to the hospital. See, it stopped bleeding already."
"As soon as you move it, it will bleed again. Watch."
He knelt on the floor. He gently rotated my ankle from side to side. The gash started to bleed again. "See. Now, please let me take you to the hospital."
"I said it's not necessary."
"Look, I'll do what I can here tonight, but I'm taking you to the hospital tomorrow."
"You can't take me tomorrow. Tomorrow is when we have to go on our date."
"Exactly. It's my choice to pick where we go, and my choice is to take you to the hospital."
I replied with my usual sarcasm. "Wow, how romantic is that?"
Adam stops what he's doing and looked up at me smiling coyly. "You want to have a romantic night out with me?"
I stuttered not knowing what to say. I didn't mean for that statement to leave my mouth, but as Noelle says 'Eve just doesn't know when to shut up'. "Well, I...um....I just assumed."
"I love seeing your face when you’re nervous. I think you’re very beautiful."
He irritated me. "I am not nervous!"
"It's okay. I promise I won't bite. Not unless you want me to." He winked at me, then returned to cleaning my leg. He dabbed at the cut and blew on it lightly trying to relieve the pain he must have seen on my face. That one act sent my head reeling. His warm breath on my skin sent chills up my leg straight to my core. Liquid heat began to pool between my legs.
The door to the bathroom swung open. A well- dressed man stood in the doorway. I quickly jumped off the counter embarrassed that I was in there with Adam. What the guy must have thought when he saw me on the counter with Adam's head near my nether region.
Adam bellowed at the young man, his voice vibrated throughout empty restroom. "Can I help you?"
The man just stood there staring.
"Well?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Winters. I need to use the restroom."
"Go use the bathroom next door."
"But sir, that's the women's bathroom."
"Yes, it is."
The man stood there for a moment debating whether or not to come in. He decided not to, he backed out of the room slowly looking utterly terrified.
How could a man who was so sweet to me be so horrid to others? This was not a trait that I looked for in a man. I got angry at how badly he treated the young man. I turn to leave, but he quickly grabbed my arm.
Adam switched back to his sweet demeanor at the drop of the hat. "Hey, where are you going? We're not finished here."
"Oh yes, we are quite finished." I tried to leave again, but he tightened his grip on my arm.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"Yes, there is. Tell me."
"Don't you think you were a little harsh to that guy?"
"No. I don't. I have to keep my edge around others. I want them to believe I am a ruthless, unforgiving businessman. It's how I've made fortune. You don't get rich lying on your back allowing people to walk all over you."
"Is money that important to you? Money can't buy everything."
"It bought you didn't it."
I have never felt so insulted in my life. How dare he think he can just buy me? "Your money didn't buy me. It bought a date for charity and that's as far as our relationship goes. Now, get your hands off me, I'm going home." I walked towards the door raising my hand to grab the knob.
"Eve, wait. Please."
I didn’t turn around to look at him. "What?"
Adam slowly came up behind me and places his hands on my arms. "Just give me chance to prove I'm not like the man everyone perceives me to be."
"Why should I?"
Adam gently placed his hands around my waist
, slowly pulling me closer to him. My back was flat against his hard chest. He slid his hands over my stomach. His touch was gentle. The heat of his skin against mine sent tingles throughout my body. I felt weak from his touch and I leaned into him allowing his hand to travel up over my breast as he held me steady with the other. He held me tight against him while he turned me around. He took my face in his hands devouring my mouth with his. Our tongues danced around like a well-choreographed tango. I closed my eyes because I was dizzy from his passionate kiss. My legs started to feel like jelly. I don't know if I would be able to stand any longer.
Adam broke away from me for just a moment and whispered against my lips. His voice low and raspy. "Open your eyes Eve. Look at me."
I open my eyes, staring in his deep chocolate brown eyes.
"I want you Eve. I’ve wanted you since the first time we bumped into each other. No one but me will ever touch you again. You're mine now."
I come out of my passion induced stupor and jerked back. How dare he be so presumptuous? "Who do you think you are? Do you think you can just turn on the charm and buy anyone you want? Other people may cater to your every wish, but that's not going to work with me."
He sighed deeply. "Eve, that's not how it is at all."
"Yes, it is. You think because you're rich and powerful, you can have anything you want. Well, I won't be bought. I'm not one of your floozy gold-digging girlfriends that you toss to the side when you're done with them. I'll see you tomorrow for our charity date, but that's as far as it goes." I opened the door and stormed out. Adam called my name, but I kept walking, I didn’t look back.
Chapter Four
I took a long hot shower before I went down to breakfast. My mother went all out as usual. I was full before I even sat down to eat there was so much food on the table. As I sat and ate I started to feel better. I had calmed down quite a bit so I decided to take a little nap.
I woke to my cell phone ringing. I looked at the caller ID, I saw it was Noelle. She probably wanted to wish me a Happy Birthday like she always did. I picked up the phone. "Hi Noelle."
"Hi. What's wrong? You don't sound good."
"I'm fine. I was just taking a nap. I had a headache this morning."
“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. By the way what happened to you last night? You left without saying a word to us."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you like that. I wasn't feeling good, all I wanted was to come home."
"It's okay. We were only worried is all. But, Adam Winters told us you had gone home. Speaking of Mr. Winters, tonight is the big date right? Are you excited?"
"No. I'm really not"
"Eve, be nice. He's very important to our company."
I thought about last night. I was being nice. A little too nice. That was before I told him off. "I know."
"Don't worry. It will be over soon enough and you can go back to your life. Call me tonight, I want to hear all the details. I'll see you tomorrow so we can celebrate our birthdays as usual."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later."
I laid back in my bed and closed my eyes. I heard the doorbell ring, but my parents were downstairs to answer it. A few minutes later my mother knocked on my door.
"Come in."
"Eve honey, these came for you." She handed me a very long box with at least two or three dozen red roses inside.
I open the box and read the card inside. It's from Adam.
Dearest Eve,
Join me tonight at my hotel for dinner. I'm sorry if I offended you in some way. Can we please start over?
Sincerely,
Adam
"Well, who are they from?"
"No one special Mom."
"They must think you're pretty special to send you this beautiful gift."
I throw the card in my purse and closed the box. “Here, you can have them."
"I'll just put them in some water for you."
After my mother left I flopped back down on the bed. Start over? Was he serious? We haven't had a real conversation let alone a relationship. We knew each other all of one day. It doesn't matter anymore. The day would soon be over and after our date tonight he will be on his way back home. I won't have to see him again. I'm only going out with him tonight because it means so much to Noelle.
After a few hours of rest I took a long hot bath to try and relax. I look in my closet for something nice to wear. It's the appropriate thing to do since I will be going to a fancy hotel for dinner. Besides it's my birthday, I always get dressed up on my birthday. I took out my favorite little black dress with the open back and laid it out on the bed.
I walked over to my dresser. I opened the top drawer. I pulled out my thigh high black stockings and black thong panties. After putting my clothes on I headed out the door. I drove to Adam's hotel. My stomach was tied in knots. For some strange reason I was nervous. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering around causing a whirlwind of unwanted feelings.
I arrived at the hotel and walked over to the front desk. "My name is Eve McIntyre. Mr. Winters is expecting me."
The young man behind the desk picked up the phone. "Yes, Mr. Winters. There is a Miss Eve McIntyre here to see you." He paused for a moment. "Yes sir. Right away." He waved a bus boy over. "Okay Ms. McIntyre, Richard here will take you to Mr. Winter’s room."
"Thank you."
I walked over to the elevator and get inside with the bus boy. He puts a key in the elevator panel next to the penthouse floor label and turns it.
The penthouse? That's not a room. That was the whole top floor of the hotel. Why should I expect anything less from Adam? He did spend one hundred thousand dollars just to go out on a date with me. The elevator stopped. Richard led me to a double door.
I knock on the door, it was opened by a waiter in a tuxedo who greeted me. "Welcome Ms. McIntyre. Mr. Winters will be right with you."
I sat at a beautifully made dinner table. Everything in the room is decorated for Christmas. Candles and poinsettias lined the mantle over the fireplace. Gold and silver linens were placed on tops of tables making the China sparkle. But, what caught my eye was the enormous Christmas tree in the corner of the room. A real tree trimmed with delicate glass ornaments and hundreds of twinkling lights. The smell of fresh pine in the air is exquisite.
I closed my eyes so I could take in the beautiful sights and smells that filled the room. What an amazing setting for a first date, if this were something I really was interested in being a part of. What a way to spend my birthday. I have to keep telling me myself it's for a good cause.
I heard footsteps behind me, but I don't turn around. Adam stood beside the table. I looked up at him and my heart started beating faster. I've never seen a man exude so much sex appeal. If things were different I would be very interested in him, despite our obvious age difference.
He sat across the table from me. The waiter brought over an ice bucket and champagne. We were served appetizers then dinner. Adam tried to make small talk during dinner, but I only answered in one or two word responses. After dinner desert was brought to us, Adam had dismissed the waiter for the night.
"Eve, I want to apologize for my behavior last night."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. You're still angry with me."
"If the only reason why you're apologizing is because I'm mad then don't bother. In fact, I better be going." I stood to leave.
Adam quickly rose and stepped in front of me. "Eve stop. Will you please hold on a second? That's not why I'm apologizing to you. Damn it. Why do you think I always have an ulterior motive other than being nice to you? Look, I'm not the man you think I am. I am not the cold-hearted person my associates perceive me to be. And I don't go through women like bubble gum."
"I find that a little hard to believe. You're rich and have hundreds of women throwing themselves at you ready to do whatever you ask of them. I saw proof of that at the party last night. Every women in the
room had their eyes on you."
Adam interrupted me. "Yet, I paid to have a date with. And paid a pretty penny I might add."
"That's my point exactly. You used your money to get something you wanted. Did you even consider thinking about simply asking me out? I didn't know who you were when we first bumped into each other. Why didn't you ask me then?"
"Well, I didn't think you would be interested the way you were screaming at me."
"I'm not. I mean I wasn't. But, how would you know if you didn't ask?" Jeez, why do I have to blabber like an idiot around him? I can't think straight around him. Especially when he's this close to me. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating. The scent of leather and sandalwood permeated my nose, my senses were overdrive. "It doesn't matter anyway." I held out my hand for him to shake. "It's been....interesting."
Adam closed the distanced between us. He took my hand in his and kissed my palm. "What are you so sacred of? Why do you run every time something gets too hard?"
I yanked my hand away from him. "You don't know me. I'm not scared of anything."
"I know you better than you think. In fact, we're very much alike."
"We are nothing alike at all. Now, if you'll please excuse me." Before I could take a step, the phone in the other room rang.
"Eve, I have to get that. I'm waiting on a very important business call. I'm sorry. Please wait here until I finish."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please Eve."
I relent in spite of my better judgment. "Fine."
"Great, I'll be right back. Five minutes."
Adam ran to get the phone before it stopped ringing. I heard him answer and I suddenly got cold feet. I walked quietly to the front door and placed my hand on the knob. I suddenly heard Adam yelling at whoever was on the other line of the call. I stopped and turned towards the room he was in. The door is slightly ajar, I peered inside. Adam was pacing back and forth screaming about some business deal. I quietly walked into the room. He slammed the receiver down and cursed. He didn't know I was there. I'm sure if he did he wouldn't be acting this way.
He turned and saw me standing in the middle of the room. "Eve."
